Author Archive

On April 6, 1934, Ford introduced whitewall tires as an $11.25 option on all its new cars. The dramatic white-highlighted tires had gained popularity as a luxury detail in the 1920s, and “wide whites” saw the peak of their popularity in the 1950s, tapering off into the 1960s, when they fell out of favor.

On April 3, 1885, Gottlieb Daimler applied for a patent on his water-cooled single-cylinder internal combustion engine. A refinement of the Otto design, it had many of the features of the modern gasoline engine, including a vertical cylinder and fuel injected through a carburetor. Its water cooling, however, was the most important feature – with that addition, the engine could be made to function at temperatures that would not cause catastrophic failure of the automobile frame, opening up the world of vehicle manufacturing as we know it today.

On April 1, 1961, the Amphicar launched…whether from a dock or a garage is lost to history. It was the first amphibious automobile mass-produced for consumer sale, and while it never really caught on in the Sixties, with a total production of only 3,878 (3,046 of which were imported to the US), the stylish, versatile little cars have legions of fans today.

On April 1, 1970, the AMC Gremlin made its debut. Far from an April Fool’s Day joke, the funky little car was AMC’s answer to consumer demand for more economical vehicles, and stylist Dick Teague’s unconventional answer to the question, “How do you produce an attention-getting subcompact on a shoestring?” The formula worked: AMC produced a whopping 671,475 Gremlins from 1970-’78.

Tired of always seeing the same old Chevrolets and Fords at car shows, with maybe a Chrysler, Plymouth, Pontiac, or Buick thrown in? Be the change you want to see by getting behind the wheel of a classic independent! In the May 2013 issue of Hemmings Motor News, we guide you through what to look for when buying an immediate post-war Frazer. These cars have all the handsome good looks and reliability of their Big Three brethren, but with an added dash of independent flair.

Plus, we help you find a specialist to keep your Jaguar on the road and running right, take a look at the design of the Chevrolet Sportvan, and give you the scoop on an interesting DKW motorcycle.

Did you miss the action in Scottsdale? Not to worry! We’ve got roundups from RM and Silver in this issue – plus coverage of the Gold Coast British Sports Car Club show in Boca Raton, Florida.

All of that, of course, is backed by pages upon pages of classifieds so you can find the car or part that exactly meets your needs.

“Safety first, speed second.” That’s a founding principle of the modern sport of land-speed racing – after the chills and thrills of the wild early years of go-fast pursuits, the sport settled down into a more regulated, controlled, and above all, safe way to get your kicks. Today, timing associations regulate the need for speed, carefully tech-inspecting all race cars and mandating safety precautions for different levels of competition.

All of that paid off this past weekend at the Texas Mile, a twice-yearly test of speed held at an airstrip in Beeville, Texas. A regular competitor there, the KP Racing team out of Houston, suffered a horrific setback to their quest to create the fastest Camaro in the world: Driver Joe Huneycutt lost control of the 2,800hp 441-cu.in. twin-turbo behemoth halfway through his run and went off the strip, rolling eight times before coming to a stop.

Joe, remarkably, suffered only a concussion and lacerations. The car’s mandatory rollcage, fabricated by John Harrison of Specialty Metal Craft, and the required personal safety gear worn by all drivers in the so-called 200 MPH club saved him from serious injury, although the car is decimated.

And yes, Joe plans to take the wheel again, aiming to get the team’s Camaro past their 263.2 MPH best, set last year.

All of this is a testament to the care and seriousness with which the land-speed hobby takes safety. As we point out in the May 2013 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines, anyone can join in with land-speed racing – all you need is a well-maintained vehicle and an approved helmet, plus nonflammable clothing. So yes, you can jump in your Z/28 or ‘Cuda and go put the pedal to the metal at any of the airstrips around the country that host timing events. But if you want to exceed about 135 MPH, safety precautions start getting serious.

It’s all about “safe, fun, and fast” – timing association officials say, “It is not our mission to ruin your weekend. Instead, it is our mission to keep you from ruining your weekend” with a crash like what happened in Texas, only without the walkaway ending. Because of that, every single car, no matter what the vintage, gets tech inspected… and the drivers get checked for gear compliance, too. Everybody – even professional race car drivers – has to take proficiency runs before they can ditch their rookie stickers, too.

And then there’s the equipment.

According to the Loring Timing Association, which runs events at northern Maine’s Loring Air Force Base, drivers seeking to exceed 135 MPH must wear a driver’s suit, gloves, headsock or helmet skirt, and boots. Cars capable of exceeding 175 MPH must have provisions for restricting head movement both forward and laterally – something that probably helped save Joe Huneycutt’s life. Ditto the rollcage requirements: Over 135, cars have to have a roll bar; between 135-150, a four-point bar is mandatory, while between 150-175, it’s a six-point bar. Over 175 MPH and you need a full cage. Race seats, belts, and restraints are also required.

The KP Racing rollcage before…

…and after

Yeah, all of that can add up to a significant investment in bringing your car to timing association spec (although you can often find an ex-SCCA car that already has a racing harness and cage installed, ready to shoot for 150 on the mile). But go look at those photos of the KP Racing Camaro again. Worth it, don’t you think?